Local vent for toilet



Jan. 7, 1958 c. c. ROSSELLE LOCAL VENT FOR TOILET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 8, 1955 Jan. 7, 1958 c. c. ROSSELLE 2,813,582

LOCAL VENT FOR TOILET Filed Sept. 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. CZ4712 s C fiasse/Ze United. States Patent r LOCAL VENT FOR Ttl llLlE'liCharles Q. Rosselle, Detroit, Mich Application September 8, 1953, SerialNo. 373,924

Claims. (Cl. 4-213) This invention relates to improvements in a ventmechanism for toilet bowls and has for an important object the provisionof an improved simple and economical mechanism of the foregoing naturewhich is particularly adapted to be readily installed with the usualtoilet bowl having the customary vertically swinging seat.

Another object is to provide a vent mechanism for toilet bowls adaptedto employ an electrically powered pump or like device automaticallyoperative to vent gases from the toilet bowls when the seat thereof isoccupied, yet which requires no electrical connections or switch meansin the environs of the bowl. Thus such connections or switch means arefeasibly mounted within a wall, attic, basement or other locality remotefrom the customary moisture of the bathroom, whereby corrosion of theelectrical connections and the danger of accidental bodily contacttherewith are avoided.

Another object is to provide such a vent mechanism including simple,improved hinge means for connecting the seat to the bowl, whereby theportions of the vent mechanism adjacent the bowl are inconspicuous andunobjectionable.

Another object is to provide an improved vent mechanism for a toiletbowl having a hinged seat comprising a vent conduit having an inlet andvalve means adjacent the bowl intermediate rear portions of the bowl andseat. The valve means normally closes the inlet, but is shiftable byengagement with the seat and bowl to open the inlet for venting gasesfrom the bowl when the seat is moved downward to its normal position ofuse adjacent the bowl. A power operated pump connected with the ventconduit is normally operative to exhaust gases therethrough from saidinlet.

In consequence when the seat is not in use, the inlet is normally closedand a low pressure develops in the conduit, causing pressure controlledmeans connected with the conduit to shut off the pump. As soon as theseat is moved downward in use toward the bowl, the inlet to the ventconduit is opened and the low pressure in the conduit tends to return toatmospheric pressure, causing the pressure controlled means to connectthe pump with the power for venting gases from the bowl. As long as theseat is occupied, the inlet will be open and the pressure in the ventconduit cannot fall to the predetermined low valve at which the pump isshut off, so that the pump will continue to operate, venting gases fromthe inlet. By virtue of such a construction, the pump is feasiblylocated remotely from the bowl, avoiding objectionable sound from itsoperation in the bathroom. Likewise no electrical wiring or switchesneed be located in the bathroom nor dangerously adjacent plumbing orwater that is frequently splashed around the bathroom.

Another object is to provide an improved seat for a toilet bowl adaptedfor use with a vent mechanism of the foregoing character and having ahollow portion opening adjacent its bottom through a plurality of ventopenings spaced around the bowl, the seat also confining therein a ventconduit and valve means normally blocking ice communication between thehollow portion of the seat and the inner end of the vent conduit. Asaforesaid the valve means is provided with operating portions shiftablewith respect to the seat by engageemnt with the bowl to establishcommunication between said hollow seat portion and vent conduit upondownward movement of the seat to its normal position of use adjacent thebowl. The other or outer end of the vent conduit is adapted to beconnected with a power operated pump normally operative to exhaust gasesfrom the vent conduit and controlled by the pressure therein asaforesaid so as to be inoperative when the pressure in the vent conduitis reduced to a predetermined low value.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a fragmentary and partially schematic view showing a watercloset assembly in side elevation and a vent mechanism embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken in the direction of thearrows substantially along the line 3-3 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of the arrows alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken in the direction of thearrows substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary schematic View showing a section of the ventconduit and the pump control mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification of thepresent invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of the arrowsalong the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom view of a toilet seat structure embodyingstill another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken in the direction of thearrows substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and arrangement of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in variousways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyemployed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 through 6, an example of a typicalwater closet assembly is shown comprising a toilet bowl l9 suitablyconnected with a reservoir 20 and the usual plumbing including a ventstack 21 located within the bathroom wall 22. Such a structure may beconventional and accordingly is not described in further detail.

Mounted on the bowl 19 is a seat 23 of customary shape pivotal on ahorizontal transverse pivot rod 24 adjacent the rear of the seat 23. Therod 24 is connected at opposite ends to the seat 23 by a pair of lateralbrackets or hinge straps 25 having portions recessed into'the undersideof the seat and secured thereto by screws 26, Fig. 5. Adjacent andinward of each bracket 25 is one of each of a pair of hinge supportingmembers 27 spacing each end bracket 25 from one of each of a pair ofintermediate hinge members 28 pivotal on the rod 24 and adapted to beconnected with the usual seat cover, not shown.

Each member 27 comprises an upper enlarged body having a depending shank27a projecting through a lateral boss 29 of the bowl 19 and securedthereto by a nut 30. The base of the body comprises a horizontalshoulder 27b projecting forwardly from the upper end of the shank 27aand resting on the upper surface of the bowl 19. The portion of themember 27 immediately above the shoulder 27b is provided with avertically elongated pivot hole 31 through which the rod 24 extends. Thelatter is normally maintained at the upper portion of the slot 31 byresilient means, but is adapted to be moved downward in the slot 31 uponthe application of sutlicient force on the seat 23, all as describedbelow.

interposed between the rear portions of the bowl 19 and seat 23 alongthe mid-plane thereof is a valve assembly indicated generally by thenumeral 32. and supported on the upper portion of the bowl 19. Theassembly 32 includes a lower housing 33 having a dome shaped chamber 34therein opening downward and closed by a screw plug 35, Fig. 3. The topof the chamber 36 is provided with a vent inlet opening 36 and comprisesan annular seat for a disc valve or plunger 37 underlying portions ofthe housing 33 below the inlet 36. A coil spring 38 under compressionbetween the plug 35 and valve plunger 37 normally urges the latterupward to close the inlet opening 36.

Upper marginal flanges 33a of the housing 33 at the back and both sidescomprise a vertical guideway for a vertically shiftable operator 39. Thelatter is spaced above and secured to the plunger 37 by a screw 46,whereby the operator 39 is vertically shiftable within the space 41therebelow, which enlarges and opens forwardly to the atmosphere viarecesses 42 and 43 in the confronting forward portions of the housing 33and operator 39.

Immediately underlying the rod 24 are a pair of coaxial screw threadedopenings 44 of equal diameter which open into the chamber 34 throughopposite lateral sidewalls of the housing 33 and receive a pair of rodsor shafts 45 and 46 screwed thereinto. The rods 45 and 46 projectlaterally from the housing 33 in opposite directions and extend snuglythrough coaxial openings 47 in the member 27, whereby the rods 45-46 andhousing 33 are maintained in fixed relationship with respect to the bowl19.

In the present instance, the rod 46 is solid and comprises a plug forits opening 44. The rod 45 is tubular and comprises part of a ventconduit opening at one end into chamber 34. The other end of the tubularrod 45 is connected to a vent conduit 48 by a coupling 49, whereby gasesvented from the bowl 19 through opening 36 can be discharged at anyconvenient location remote from the bathroom, as for example to thebasement, attic, or exterior of existing houses, or into the stack 21 asshown where such is accessible, as for example in the construction ofnew buildings. The rods 45 and 46 are interchangeable, permitting theconduit 48 to be mounted at either side of the bowl 19 in accordancewith the requirements of the installation.

Gases are vented from the bowl 1Q by a power operated pump 50 operatedby a suitable power means, as for example an electric motor 51. The pump50 is connected to the conduit .8, between the stack 21 and inlet 36, asfor example within the wall 22, so that the noise of pump operation willnot be objectionable. Operation of the pump 50 is controlled inaccordance with the pressure in conduit 48 by suitable pressureresponsive means, as for example a pressure switch indicated generallyby the numeral 52, Fig. 6.

The pressure switch 52 in the present instance comprises a pair ofoppositely dished shells 52a and 52b having marginal flanges spaced by aflexible diaphragm 53 and securely clamped together by a plurality ofrivets 54. The diaphragm 53 partitions the space between the shells 52aand 52b into two distinct compartments and is reinforced by a pair ofwashers 55 and 56 suitably secured to opposite sides of its centralportion. A coil spring 57 within the compartment at one side of thediaphragm 53 yieldingly maintains the latter at a central positionbetween the shells 52a and 52b, the latter compartment being connectedby a conduit 58 to the conduit 46 at a location intermediate the pump 50and inlet 36. A plunger shaft 59 secured to the washers 55 and 56extends oppositely from the spring 5''? through the shell 52a andsupports a coil spring 60 seated against a transverse pin 61 secured toshaft 59 adjacent the latters outer end.

The spring 60 extends coaxially endwise from the shaft and supports ashiftable electrical contact element 62. The latter is yieldingly urgedagainst a fixed electrical contact element 63 by the force of spring 66when the diaphragm 53 is adjacent its central location indicated in Fig.6. Upon the development of a predetermined low pressure in the conduitift, the flexible diaphragm 53 is shifted toward the shell 52b, causinghe plunger 59 and contact element 62 to shift correspondingly away fromthe contact 63, thereby breaking the electrical circuit containing theelectrical power supply 64 for motor 51.

By virtue of the foregoing construction, when the seat 23 is notoccupied it is normally maintained by spring 33 at the position shown inFig. 3 whereat inlet 36 is closed by plunger 37. Upon operation of motor51, the pump 50 will exhaust gases from conduit 48 until the pressureswitch 52 breaks the contact between the elements 62 and 63, causingde-activation of motor 51 and pump 50.

Many common types of pumps suitable for use herein are adapted to pumpin one direction only and to prevent the reverse flow of gases when thepump is inoperative. Where such a pump is not employed, a suitable meanssuch as the check-valve 65 is provided to prevent back flow of gasesinto the portion of the conduit 48 contain ing the duct 58. Thus as longas the inlet 36 remains closed, diaphragm 53 will remain depressedtoward the shell 52b and the contacts 62 and 63 will remain open. Assoon as the seat is 23 occupied, the weight thereon will force theoperator 39 downward to the extent permitted by the space 41 and slot31, causing plunger 37 to move downward and open inlet 36.

Gases then entering the chamber 34 through inlet 36 are conveyed byconduits 45 and 43 to duct 58, permitting diaphragm 53 to returnsubstantially to its normal position, Fig. 6, thereby closing thecontacts 62 and 63 and energizing motor 51 to start pump 50. As long asinlet 36is open, operation of pump 50 cannot develop a sufliciently lowpressure in conduits 48 and 58 to open or separate contactors 62 and 63.As soon as the seat 23 is permitted to return to its upper position,Fig. 3, closing inlet 36, the pressure in ducts 48 and 58 will bereduced sutficiently to cause opening of the contacts 62 and 63,stopping pump 56 as aforesaid.

A modification of a valve assembly suitable for use with the presentinvention is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein the plumbing andrelationship between the bowl 19 and seat 23 are the same as illustratedin Figs. 1 through 5. The valve shown in Figs. 7 and 8 comprises ahousing 66 supported on the rear upper surface of the bowl 19 along themidline thereof and below the seat 23 in the manner of the valveassembly 32. The bottom of the housing 66 is recessed at 67 so as toprovide a forwardly opening space above the bowl 19 comparable to theflared opening 42, 43.

Opening upwardly from the recess 67 is a chamber 68 within the housing66 having a lower upwardly tapered conical valve seat portion 69 for avalve plunger '70. The latter is secured to the lower end of avertically shiftable operating shaft 71 which extends slidably upwardthrough the housing 66 and terminates in an enlarged head '72.Underlying the head 72 is an upwardly bowed leaf spring '73 having acentral opening '74, of smaller dimensions than the head 72, throughwhich the shaft 71 extends. The lower ends of the bowed spring 73 fitwithin an upwardly opening slot 75 recessed into the top of the housing68, whereby the spring 73 is adapted to be flattened by downwardmovement of the head 72. The latter immediately underlies the rearportion of the seat 23 and is depressed when the seat is occupied,shifting plunger 70 downward to open the inlet into chamber 68. Alsoimmediately underlying the pivot rod 24 and opening into the chamber 68through opposite lateral sidewalls of the housing 66 are coaxial screwthreaded bores 44a for the conduit 45 and solid rod 46 which serve inthe manner as above described.

The above described valve assemblies can be readily installed withexisting water closets upon replacing the conventional supports for thepivot rod 45 by the members 27 shown. A modification of the presentinvention which provides for replacement of the entire seat 23 by a seat'76 containing a valve assembly as an integral feature thereof isillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The seat 76 is conventional in overallexterior design and is pivotally connected to the rod 24 by thecustomary brackets or hinge straps 25 secured to the underside of theseat by the screws 26. The seat '76 can be formed from molded plastic inaccordance with the customary practice and is provided with a hollowinterior which is sealed from the exterior except at a plurality ofsmall openings 79 through the bottom of the seat structure adjacent andspaced around the inner periphery thereof. As indicated, the openings 79are preferably more closely spaced toward the rear of seat than towardthe front.

Located within the front portion of the seat 76 along its midline is acylindrical valve housing or chamber 80 suitably secured within the bodyof the seat as for example by being molded therein. The housing 88 isclosed at its upper end by a plate 81 and opens downwardly through thebottom of the seat '76. Spaced from the lower end of the housing 88 is ascrew plug 82 which screws upward into a lower internally threadedenlarged portion 83 of the interior of the housing 80. A secondinternally threaded enlargement 84 at the bottom of the housing 80 belowthe plug 82. retains a bottom screw plug 85. The space 86 between theplugs 82 and 85 opens through the wall of the housing 80 and into thehollow interior of the seat 76 via a number of openings 87.

The plug 82 is provided with an upwardly diverging conical inlet 88having a mating valve plunger 89 seated therein and normally helddownward to close the inlet 88 by means of a coil spring 98 undercompression between the plunger 09 and top plate 81. Secured to theplunger 89 is a depending stem 91 which projects slidably through abumper 92 of rubber-like material secured to the underside of the plug85. The lower end of the stem 91 is secured to a second bumper 93adapted to engage the top of the bowl 19 so as to force the stem 91upward and open the inlet 88 when the seat 76 is occupied. Otherwise thespring 98 urges the stem 91 downward with sufficient force to maintainthe inlet 88 closed even though the bumper 93 is resting on the upperedge of the bowl 19.

Connected to the interior of the chamber 88 above the plug 82 is aconduit 94 which extends to the rear of the seat '76 within the interiorthereof and opens to the exterior through a fitting 95. The latter isadapted to be connected by any suitable flexible means to the conduit 48to provide vent means for the bowl 119 as above described. In thepresent instance a flexible conduit 96 is connected at one end with thefitting 95 and is connected at its other end to the conduit 8 by acoupling 97. Thus the seat 76 is freely pivotal.

In operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, when the seat76 is not occupied, the valve plunger 89 is held downward by the spring90, blocking communication between the hollow interior of the seat 76and the conduit 9 5. In consequence upon operation of pump 50 asaforesaid, conduit as will be evacuated and motor 50 will 6 shut off atthe predetermined low pressure at which the contacts 62 and 63 separate.When the seat 76 is occupied, it is forced downward toward the bowl,shifting stem 91 upward and opening the inlet 88. Gases are then ventedfrom the bowl 19 through the bottom seat openings 79, openings 87, inlet88, and conduits 94, 96 and 48, relieving the low pressure within theconduits 48 and 58 and permitting the pump 50 to resume operation uponclosure of the contacts 62, 63.

An important feature of the present invention apparent from theforegoing is its ready adaptability for use in buildings containing anynumber of water closets, since vent inlets from any number of toiletbowls can be connected to the conduit 48. The single pump 50 controlledby pressure in the header 48 as described above will operateautomatically whenever said pressure rises to a value predetermined bythe setting of pressure switch 52. It is only necessary that thecapacity of pump 50 and conduit 48 be adequate to vent all of the toiletbowls connected thereto that might be in use simultaneously.

I claim:

1. In a vent mechanism for a toilet bowl, a toilet seat adapted to behingedly connected to said bowl, said seat having a hollow portion and aplurality of openings in communication with said hollow portion throughthe bottom of said seat, a vent conduit having an inlet opening intosaid hollow portion to vent gases therefrom, power operated means forexhausting gases from said conduit, pressure controlled means incommunication with said conduit and responsive to a predetermined lowpressure therein to stop operation of said power operated means, valvemeans carried by said seat and normally closing said inlet, andoperating means for said valve means cooperable with said seat to opensaid inlet upon predetermined movement of said seat toward said bowl.

2. In a vent mechanism for a toilet bowl, a toilet seat adapted to behingedly connected to said bowl, said seat having a hollow portion and aplurality of openings in communication with said hollow portion throughthe bottom of said seat, a vent conduit having an inlet opening intosaid hollow portion to vent gases therefrom, power operated means forexhausting gases from said conduit, pressure controlled means incommunication with said conduit and responsive to a predetermined lowpressure therein to stop operation of said power operated means, valvemeans carried by said seat for said inlet, operating means for saidvalve means shiftable in one direction with respect to said seat byengagement with said bowl and connected with said valve means to opensaid inlet upon predetermined movement of said seat toward said bowl,and resilient means yieldingly urging shifting of said operating meansoppositely to said one direction to close said valve means.

3. in a vent mechanism for a toilet bowl, a toilet seat adapted to behingedly connected to said bowl, said seat having a hollow portion andan opening into said hollow portion adjacent the bottom of said seat, avent conduit confined within the body of said seat, said conduit havingan outlet opening exteriorly of said seat, said conduit also having aninlet opening into said hollow portion to vent gases therefrom, poweroperated means for discharging gases from within said conduit throughsaid outlet, pressure controlled means in communication with saidconduit and responsive to a predetermined low pressure therein to stopoperation of said power operated means, valve means carried by said seatand normally closing said inlet, and operating means for said valvemeans cooperable with said seat to open said inlet upon predeterminedmovement of said seat toward said bowl.

4. In a vent mechanism for a toilet bowl, a toilet seat adapted to behingedly connected to said bowl, said seat having a hollow portion and aplurality of openings in communication with said hollow portion throughthe bottom of said seat, a vent conduit confined within the t having anoutlet opening body of said seat, said con conduit also having an inletopening into said hollow portion adjacent the front of said seat, poweroperated means for discharging gases from within said conduit throughsaid outlet, pressure controlled means in communication with saidconduit and responsive to a predetermined low pressure therein to stopoperation of said power operated means, valve means carried by said seatand normally closing said inlet and being 0perable to open said inletupon predetermined movement of said seat toward said bowl.

5. In a vent mechanism for a toilet bowl, a toilet seat hingedlyconnected to said bowl, said seat having a hollow portion and pluralityof openings in communication with said hollow portion through the bottomof said seat, an interior vent conduit confined within the body of saidseat and having :an inlet opening into said hollow portion adjacent thefront of said seat, valve means carried by said seat and normallyclosing said inlet, operating means for said valve means shiftable withrespect to said seat by engagement with said bowl and connected withsaid valve means to open said inlet upon predetermined movement of saidseat tow d said bowl, an exterior vent conduit, flexible meansconnecting one end of said exterior conduit with said interior conduitadjacent the rear of said seat, check valve means in said exteriorconduit to block passage of gases therethrough toward said inlet, pumpmeans adapted to be connected with power to be operated thereby todischarge gases from said inlet through said check valve means, andmeans in communication with said conduit intermediate said inlet andcheck valve means and norma connecting said pump means with said powercomprising pressure controlled means responsive to a predetermined lowpressure in said conduit to block the connection between said pump meansand power.

References fitted in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

